Game-counter



(No Model.)

L. W. HEATH. GAME COUNTER.

No. 590,523. Patented Sept. 21,1897.

STATES FFiCE@ PATENT GAM E-COUNTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 590,523, datecl September 21, 1897. Application filed May 27, 1897. Serial No. {338,404. (No model.)

To all whom it' may cowern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS XV. HE ATH, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Game-Counter or Game-Register, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a new and useful game-counter orgame-register; and the same consists in combining in one device of two ways for retainin g the counters, each way consisting ot' two arms or extensions, the counter being adapted to move from one to the other, and each way having a portion lying parallel with and near to a corresponding portion of the other way, so that the counters cannot pass each other in the adjacent portions of the two ways that is, a counter in one way cannot pass a counter in the other way. This device is adapted for use in connection with various games, but is more particularly adapted to be used in connection with the game of duplicate and compass whist, and in the drawings I have illustrated a form of my invention peculiarly adapted to use in connection with the game of duplicate and compass whist and for the purpose of counting the tricks taken by either side.

The objects of my invention are, first, to furnish a convenient game-counter for keeping the count or games, or, in the case of duplicate and compass whist, for keeping the count of the tricks taken by either side; second, to so register the tricks or games taken that the tricks taken will be preserved in the order in which they are taken; third, to so arrange the ways in which the counters move that a person can tell at a glance not only the num ber of tricks taken by each side, but the order in which such tricks have been taken. hen the thirteen tricks are counted, the last counter on each side will show the number of tricks each side is en titled to score. These objects I accomplish by means of the mechanism llustrated in the acconpanying drawngs, in whichi Figure 1 shows a plan View of a counter constructed -in accordance with my invention containing a number of counters. Fig. 2 shows a sectional view on line X X of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows a side elevation of a form of counter which may be used in connection with this device.

Similar letters refer to similar part s throughout the several views.

In the example of my invention shown in the drawngs, Fig. 1 illustrates a form which may be used Conveniently in connection with duplicate and compass whist, one side of which nay be marked North and South, as shown by N and S,and the other side to be East and West, as shown by E and XV.

counters, the two parallel portions being connected together by a curved passage portion H and H', respectively. It is essential to my invention that each way has a portion parallel with the correspondin portion of the other way, the parallel portion being shown by D and F, these ways being separated by a partition, (shown in the'drawings by P.) In Fig. 3 I have shown a preferred form of the counter, which consists of an upper and lower portion with a connecting part of less size than the counter or the retaining` portion. These counters are placed, in the example of myinvention shown in the drawings, in slots, the slots forming ways, the Construction being fully shown in Fig. 2. In playing duplicate or compass whist each way contains thirteen counters` numbered, respectively, from 1 to 13. The counters-say in the ways D D'- are, in the first place, placed, all of them, in the portion D', and the counters in the ways F F' are placed in the portion F In using this device we will suppose that the party representing the north and south wins two tricks, the upper counters, marked l and 2, will then be moved into the slot or way D and drop to the lower portion thereof, as shown in Fig. 1. Now if the other side or party wins a trick then the counter m arked l is moved froni the way F' to F and drops into the posi- ICO tion shown in Fig. l, the counter 9 preventing the same from dropping below a certain portion of the way. lf east and westwin the next two tricks, they will nove the counters 2 and 3 to way F in like manner. If now again the side marked N and S wins a trick, then the next counter, which is marked 3, will be moved from the way D' to the portion of the way D and will drop into the position shown in Fig'. 1, resting against the counter 3 of the side marked E and \V. In this way all of the tricks taken wll be represented by the counters resting in the slots or ways D and F, and by counting up the counters which are 'in-the way D will be ascertained the number of tricks taken by the side which I have marked N and S, and by counting the counters rest-ing in the way F will be found the number of tricks taken by the side marked E and and the arrangement of these counters will show precisely the order in which the tricks have been taken. If the counters are arranged in two series and each series is numbered from l to lil, as I prefer to construct them, then the last counter moved from either series into the parallel portion of the ways will, by its number, show the number ot' tricks taken, so that it will be unnecessary even to count up the counters. I prefer to have these counters marked, as stated, from l to 13 when used in connection with duplicate or compass whist, and 'for the purpose of distinguishing the counters more readily those on one side may be made of di'i'tere't color from those on the other side. The portion of the ways marked D' and F' need not necessarily be parallel to each other, but for convenience I prefer to so make them, but' the portions of the ways marked D and F must neeessarily be parallel to each other, or substantially so, in order to prevent the counters from passing each other. These counters maybe constructed of Wood, metal, or any other suitable material, and these ways may be eonstructed in any suitable Inanner for holding or retaining suitable counters, t being necessary merely to have parallel por- 'tions of the ways which are adapted to receive and allow the counters to move thercin and other portions of the ways adaptcd to receive the counters at the beginning,` ot' the game.

Having thus described my in vention, what I claim to have invcnted, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- l. In a game-counter, the conbination of two ways for receiving and retaining the movable counters, a portion of one way lying parallcl to a portion of the other way and so near thereto as to prevent a counter in the adjacent portion of one way 'from passing a counter in the adjaeent portion of the other way, substantially as described.

2. In a game-counter, the combination of two ways each adapted to hold a certain number of counters, and each containing two parallel portions, one portion adapted to receive all the counters in its way at the beginning ot' the game, and each way having a portion parallel to a corresponding portion of the other way, a partition between the parallel portions of the two ways, counters adaptcd to move in the ways, but of sull'icicnt size to prevent said counters 'from passing each other in the adjacent parallel portions ot' the two ways, substantially as and l'or the purpose described.

3. In a game-counter, the combination of two ways' for recei'vng' and retaining two series of counters, a series of counters [or each way, numberedrespectively f rom l to 13, a portion of the way tor one oi' the series lying parallel with a portion ol' the way [or the other series of counters and in such relation thereto that the counters ot' one series cannot pass the counters of the other series, and the number ot the last counter moved into the adjacent way showing the number of tricks won, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand an d seal in the presence of two witn esscs.

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